Epcot

[sleepyone]

Hello everyone,

The last time we visited Epcot we only were able to spend a little time there. We only visited Innoventions, Mission Space, Test Track, and Honey I Shrunk the Audience. I have lots of questions and am seeking your experience. Anyone with binders full of info greatly needed.

This trip we will visit Epcot May 8th and 13th. We plan to go to World Showcase through the International Gateway and visit the World Showcase on our arrival date, May 8th. We will most likely spend some time at the hotel freshening up and letting the kids explore so, we'll probably make it to Epcot at 2:30. Any advice about which country we should go to first? We will have our 3 children ages 8, 3, and 1 1/2. We are really interested in seeing Illuminations, is there a "good" spot for viewing? We have PS for Restaurant Akershus at 5:40. Just curious, which "Princesses" have you all seen at Restaurant Akershus...I know it varies.

On May 13th, we would like to visit Future World. We will be staying at CBR. We plan to drive our own car to Epcot from CBR unless there is a better way to get there. Is there a better way to get there? Should we enter throught the International Gateway? I've heard you can get into the park an hour earlier through this entrance and walk to the Future World and get great pictures of everything without the crowds. Is it worth it with 3 kids in tow? We can bring a double and a single stoller. My oldest will not be embarrassed to ride because Epcot is SO big. We have no plans for this day yet except requests to see The Living Seas, Soarin' and to ride Test Track. We plan to eat counter service; any recomendations?

Thanks in advance for any advice offered.

 

[LoveMickey]

Since we do not have children, I cannot answer most of your questions.

I will mention that you will be there during the Flower and Garden Show. They have topiaries set up at most every country. They are fun to see. They will again have the Dog Gone Maze (last year it was located in the side walkway between FW and WS). And they have lady bug releases daily. There is also going to be a butterfly area. Those might interest your children.

We always use the bus to get to the parks.

Have fun, we're going down end of April beginning of May.

 

[wdwgoofeeee]

I'll try to help on a few points. You said a couple of times that you plan on using the International Gateway entrance/exit. Please be aware that you cannot park on that side. Parking for Epcot is at the main entrance, which is Future World. The International Gateway entrance is used by the guests staying at the Beach/Yacht Clubs, Boardwalk, Swan/Dolphin. This entrance opens the same time as the main entrance. It DOES NOT open any earlier.
From the IG you can walk over to the boardwalk area and the Beach/Yacht club area. You can also take the Friendship boat over to these locations (as well as the Swan/Dolphin). The boat continues on to the Studios but you can also walk, maybe 25 minutes or so.

I would just take the bus from your resort to Epcot unless you have some reason that you would rather drive.

As for Test Track please note that it is VERY popular and the line forms fast. We entered through the International Gateway a couple of years back during an Early Morning and by the time we got to TT there was already a long line. We grabbed Fast Passes and got on the stand by line so we could ride a couple of times. Fast Passes for TT often run out pretty early in the afternoon so don't delay getting there.
You may want to use the International Gateway to walk over to the boardwalk area. There are a number of places to eat. Check out the dining info and menus on allearsnet.com
Hope this helps.

 

[sleepyone]

I'll try to help on a few points. You said a couple of times that you plan on using the International Gateway entrance/exit. Please be aware that you cannot park on that side. Parking for Epcot is at the main entrance, which is Future World. The International Gateway entrance is used by the guests staying at the Beach/Yacht Clubs, Boardwalk, Swan/Dolphin. This entrance opens the same time as the main entrance. It DOES NOT open any earlier.
From the IG you can walk over to the boardwalk area and the Beach/Yacht club area. You can also take the Friendship boat over to these locations (as well as the Swan/Dolphin). The boat continues on to the Studios but you can also walk, maybe 25 minutes or so.

I would just take the bus from your resort to Epcot unless you have some reason that you would rather drive.

As for Test Track please note that it is VERY popular and the line forms fast. We entered through the International Gateway a couple of years back during an Early Morning and by the time we got to TT there was already a long line. We grabbed Fast Passes and got on the stand by line so we could ride a couple of times. Fast Passes for TT often run out pretty early in the afternoon so don't delay getting there.
You may want to use the International Gateway to walk over to the boardwalk area. There are a number of places to eat. Check out the dining info and menus on allearsnet.com
Hope this helps.

Thank you, for your help. I was misinformed about the International Gateway, I guess. But, at least I know before our trip. Thanks again.

 

[sarahandhannahsmom]

A great place to watch Illuminations is in Mexico..

We usually tour World Showcase in a counter clockwise fashion. It seems less crowded to us.

We take the car and park at the main entrance. We go directly to Test Track, although this year we are going to Soarin First. After Soarin, we are going to Test Track for a fastpass. Depending on return time, we may go to World showcase. My kids are 7 and 4. They love the Kidcot stops, but other than that, all we do in World Showcase is American Adventure, Maelstrom and El Rio del Tiempo.

We found that we were unable to do Future World in one day. Since we take the car and enter at Main entrance, we usually start at a Superheadliner in Futrue World then go to World Showcase. Sometimes in World Showcase we get hung up with long Kidcot stops or street entertainment, but we generally move through there in about 3 hours or so.

This year we are dining at San Angel Inn in Mexico at 6:20 then hanging out there for Illuminations.

Good luck, and have a great time.

 

[WDSearcher]

Thank you, for your help. I was misinformed about the International Gateway, I guess.

Not necessarily. If you are taking internal (Disney) transporatation, just get off at Y&B or Boardwalk and walk or take the boat over from one of the hotels. The boat stops right at International Gateway, and is a nice ride in the morning. If you are driving and want to park nearby, the closest you can get is Boardwalk or Y&B. You can park there if you valet, but if you want to park without paying, there is a 3-hour limit. You can walk or take the boat from there.

You will be able to enter there during Extra Magic Hours, but you will enter through International Gateway and then be guided through World Showcase (which won't be open yet) to Future World. As others have said, by the time you get to FW, it will be pretty crowded from all the people who came in the main gate. But it's still a nice walk, particularly if you're not rushing for rides.

As for the princesses ... the appearance of Princesses at times other than breakfast is brand new at Akershus, and will have just started in April, so there's no way of knowing who will be the "regulars" at this point. However, some combination of the following Characters will appear: Belle, Jasmine, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty (Princess Aurora), Mary Poppins, Pocahontas, and Mulan.

 

[DissyLove]

As far as food choices with kids, here are my favorites:
Counter service-World Showcase-Of course, burgers and fries and such are always options in the American Adventure area

We like the fish and chips in Rose and Crowne, and the counter service egg rolls in China

Sit down-We all like the Japan Teppayanaki grill-kids enjoy the grill chefs preparing your food, and if your kids like stir fry-I had one order chicke, the other shrimp, they liked it. Nice souvenier cups with the beverages there as well.

In future world-we like the Land, as a charecter meal-kids had the chicken tenders, and they have a nice kids desert, and Mickey and pals are there. It is a rotating dining room and lots of fun

You can check out the menues at www.allearsnet.com and click on the menus sectionat Epcot.

My kids love epcot and enjoy making the masks and getting the stamps as they travel each country. Don't miss Journey into the Imagination with Figment if you have little ones, they love it!